ORLAND PARK, IL — Numerous educational programs, one-on-one business meetings and an aftermarket-focused trade show are among the many options available to distributors who attend the first-ever Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, (HDAW), Jan. 23-27, 2006, at The Mirage in Las Vegas.

Dave Scheer, president, Inland Truck Parts Company, Overland Park, KS, and chairman of the HDAW Joint Operating Committee, is attending HDAW for many reasons, but high on his list is HDAW’s comprehensive distributor education program.

“HDAW offers a menu of choices. For me, education is the most important. Many distributors will participate in the one-on-one business meetings; others will focus on the trade show and networking. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find it at this event,” said Scheer.

HDAW’s distributor education program will address many of the leading issues facing distributors, including standards in technology, access to technical and product information and educating and recruiting professional employees.

In addition to this education, the inaugural HDAW executive conference has a trade show – with more than 200 supplier exhibitors already on board – and one-on-one business meetings between distributor and supplier senior executives. HDAW will also provide new networking opportunities for the distributor and supplier executives in attendance.

With 31 years of aftermarket experience, Scheer sees HDAW as the first event to bring together the independent heavy duty aftermarket industry at a common place and time to address issues as a unified, rather than fragmented, group. By gathering at the same time, HDAW also strives to draw a critical mass of attendees to attract the industry’s top executives and speakers, and reduce individual association and organization meeting costs.

Registration is available online at: hdaw.org. Members of the following organizations receive a special registration fee: Heavy Duty Distribution Association, Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, Council of Fleet Specialists, Heavy Duty America, Heavy Duty Remanufacturers Group, Heavy Duty Representatives Association, National Wheel & Rim Association, Overseas Automotive Council, Power Heavy Duty, Service Specialists Association, TruckPride and VIPAR Heavy Duty.

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